Chess Puzzle #0XO6i — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1413 · Intermediate · endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice.

Position

White: king c2; rooks d7/e7; bishop c5; pawns a2/b2/g2. Black: king g8; rooks c8/h8; bishop f4; pawns a6/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook c8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf7 — rook e7→f7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d7→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
  4. Best move: Rxf8# — rook d8→f8, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, sacrifice. The combination ends with Rxf8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2r3kr/2pRRppp/p7/2B5/5b2/8/PPK3P1/8 b - - 6 30

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.